Community Chat

[MOMMAVik]

Will the UIC Department pay for you to enroll in a class and actually pay the tuition for training, specifically to become licensed for truck driving and continue to pay your weekly benefit? This person was told that by the claim rep who also advised them not to take a job while enrolled, even a part-time job. Has anyone had any experience with this? Is it possible that it would vary from state to state? Thank you for any info you can offer.

[godi]

Pennsylvania does not do this. They will help you get a job after so many weeks collecting. If you don't apply for so many jobs a week they shut you off.  

[Kachina624]

@MOMMAVik. Yes, the rules can vary by state according to programs that are available.  UI does not pay for training.  It's a Federal tax mandated just for the payment of unemployment compensation  (Federal Unemployment Tax Act), however, there are nearly always programs available to cover training costs for specific classes of unemployed workers.  Some may be based on income and some may qualify depending on the industry in which he worked or reason for lay-off.

As a rule, UI recipients must be available for work but if he's in approved training that requirement may be waived.

[Meowingkitty]

Arizona doesn't do this either. They will also cut you off if you don't apply for so many jobs per week. They claim to help you get a job but the jobs they have available are usually low paying entry level grunt work jobs. They also didn't care if the job was an hours drive one way and paid minimal wage, they wanted you to take it. At least that was the case several years ago when I was on unemployment.

[Carmie]

I am not sure,why this is posted in recipes????

@godi  That is not always the case in PA and especially not right now.  You do not have to be looking for a different job to keep collecting unemployment as long as your time ( eligible weeks ) has not run out...the time has been extended for the pandemic.

If you work, let's say only during the school year or the summer, you can collect without looking for a new job because you have expectations of going back to your job when the work season begins.

PA also has programs to train you for new job opportunities if you lose your job.

[Kachina624]

@Carmie.  If a school employee, such as a teacher, has a contract for the subsequent school year, he or she is not eligible for UI.  A cafeteria worker or janitor might be.

[Carmie]

@Kachina624   That is very true. many schools in PA have employees that are not actually being paid by the school district, but by an independent contractor.  These positions might include a cafeteria worker or substitute teacher or a Para Aid.

[godi]

I worked for a school district 16 years. I was considered a secondary employee, I was never elegable to collect in summer. 
My husband is in the construction field he gets laid off once a year depending on weather. He always let Pa unemployment know he was going to get called back. After 6 weeks he still had to go out and fill out applications. If he didn't he would get shut off unemployment. I know now you don't have to do that because of pandemic.  Thank goodness because he's been laid off awhile because of pandemic. 

[Carmie]

@godi   When you apply for unemployment the application asks you if you will be called back to work and if the layoff is temporary.  if you answer yes, and give them the date you will be returning, you do not have to look for a another job.

If you work for a school district, you would probably not be eligible for unemployment,  Many people work in the school building are not school district employees.  They could work for the company who runs the cafeteria for instance.  They are eligible for unemployment during the summer months and they do not have to look for another job while collecting it.

[chrystaltree]

I am certain it varies from state to state, most things do.  I don't think Unemployment pays for training in my state but there are state funded programs that pay do pay for job training for the unemployed and also for the under employed.